Delicious, Creamy Mashed Potatoes (just ask our friend Leslie)

Who doesn't like mashed potatoes? Only someone from outer space can't appreciate this quintessential comfort food that is a requirement at Thanksgiving. This year I lifted my recipe from Ree Drummond (aka the Pioneer Woman). It was outstanding - just ask our friend Leslie. I was a bit leery about making an entire five pound batch but given the amount of fat that went into these babies I just knew that plenty of potatoes would be needed. But back to Leslie - she's Hailey's roommate in Salt Lake City and they have been fast friends since their Freshman year in college. Leslie is from Oregon (Medford to be exact, home of Harry and David's) and so it's just too far for her to go home at Thanksgiving. Lucky for us that means she has spent the past three Thanksgivings with us. I didn't know until this year that one of her favorite courses was the mashed potatoes - and she more than proved it. Here's a photo of Hailey and Leslie from the summer of 2010 in Lincoln City, Oregon. They were not yet 21 then so I'm almost certain that these were non-alcoholic drinks (yeah right):

So back to the mashed potatoes - these are heart stoppers. Nothing like adding a pound of fat - half butter and half cream cheese. Ree calls for half-and-half as the liquid - I say why choke on the tail and used heavy table cream. You can find the recipe here, on Ree's excellent food blog:  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/11/delicious_creamy_mashed_potatoes/

Leslie - this one's for you!